Soccer Portal

Blackpool’s promotion to the Premiership was seen as a miracle. Here was a team put together on a fraction of the budget of their other promotion rivals, who played in a half finished stadium with a manager who, whilst a popular cult figure in English football due to some rather legendary media quotes, had never managed in the top flight and came to Blackpool off the back of a couple of disappointing stints at Leicester City and Plymouth Argyle.

The annual Summer Season reviews/previews put out by the usual Newspapers and magazines wrote Blackpool off. They would be the whipping boys of the league. Ian Holloway had over-achieved with a squad that was tipped the previous year to be a solid mid-table outfit. Could they have a worse season than Derby County did during the 2007-08 season?

This summer hardly changed these views. Controversial owner Karl Oyston stepped down from the board of the club amid reports he had been made bankrupt. The club was slow to sign players, with player’s fee’s and wages being considerably higher than the club were willing to afford. Their goal scoring hero from the previous season’s “Miracle” DJ Campbell couldn’t have his loan move made permanently due to a difference in the valuation of the player between Blackpool and his parent club, Leicester City. By all means, the Premiership’s potential whipping boys were shaping up to be just that.

What has happened since can only be seen as a continuation of the Blackpool miracle. The club stuck to their wage cap policy, bringing in the likes of Marlon Harewood and Elliot Grandin on free transfers, and finding the money to sign DJ Campbell to a longer term deal. The stadium was improved, with a new stand in place to take on Fulham. An opening day win at Wigan, 4-0 sent the English footballing world into a frenzy. They were briefly tip of the league on that opening day. Little Blackpool, a side who’s only real achievements in the game seemed to have occurred during the black and white era of the 50’s.

Holloway has assembled a team of hard workers, much in his own image from his time as a player at Q.P.R and Bristol Rovers. There is a mentality in the team that suggests they fear no-one. They are not here to make up the numbers. Further wins at Newcastle, and sensationally at Anfield, turning over the mighty Liverpool in front of the intimidating Kop has seen Blackpool sit in mid-table on 10 points. 10 points towards the magical 40 point target seen as being the total needed to survive relegation.

Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City was certainly nothing to be ashamed about. City, a team built from many millions of pounds worth of talent imported from across the globe were made to work very hard for their win. Blackpool showed heart, determination and an attacking attitude which showed that they are certainly no push-over’s this season. Blackpool will be far from the pleasant sea-side weekend many fans were expecting.